The walk
Many whose religious base is the Christian religion will gather today to remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Of course, unlike the family and friends of Jesus at the time of the crucifixion, Christians know that the death is temporary. Soon it will be Easter morning and the resurrection.
The journey of the cross is strewn with not only the painful insecurities of those threatened by the teachings of Jesus, but also by the tears and the regrets of Peter, Judas and others whose were, once again, confronted with their own human weakness.
The good news was and is that forgiveness is possible; that today all of us have another opportunity to walk the walk of unconditional love.
Last night in a Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday service the pastor, Joel, called on the memory of Fred Rogers and one of the songs for which this simple Presbyterian Minister turned neighborhood host to children (and many adults) was known: There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You. The last verse of the song is:
Singing, cleaning,
Drawing, being
Understanding
Love you.
Although Fred Rogers was not shy about saying “I love you.” he also knew it was an action phase which required showing up and being intentional about how action or lack of action affected others.
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood show was designed to make it appear that one could always just drop in on Fred Rogers and feel at home. Everyone was a member of the neighborhood and everyone was welcome. I cannot recall ever talking to anyone who felt as if their color, religion, sexual orientation, size, looks or any other factor kept them out of this inclusive neighborhood. I think he gave hope to millions of children that they, too, could have a safe place to be; they too could belong.
Easter for me is about having a neighborhood to which one belongs. Millions of people feel as if they do not belong; as if they are not welcome; as if there is an us and them.
I do not think it matters whether our knowledge of Grace - unconditional love – comes from the idea of a resurrected Jesus – a resurrected Christ – or a Mr. Rogers - that person who assures one that one is loved and that one belongs – a teacher, a parent, an aunt, uncle, next door neighbor, the clerk at the store, the homeless person pushing a cart, a young child, that person sitting in jail or even a minister/priest/rabbi.
Hello. I love you.
Hello. Goodness, yes I know you are human.
Hello. Let me share my home, fix you a cup of hot chocolate, carry your groceries, take time to actually notice you, run an errand, listen when it means stopping what I had planned to do, or share my soup.
Let
Me
Love
You
Written March 30, 2018
Many whose religious base is the Christian religion will gather today to remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Of course, unlike the family and friends of Jesus at the time of the crucifixion, Christians know that the death is temporary. Soon it will be Easter morning and the resurrection.
The journey of the cross is strewn with not only the painful insecurities of those threatened by the teachings of Jesus, but also by the tears and the regrets of Peter, Judas and others whose were, once again, confronted with their own human weakness.
The good news was and is that forgiveness is possible; that today all of us have another opportunity to walk the walk of unconditional love.
Last night in a Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday service the pastor, Joel, called on the memory of Fred Rogers and one of the songs for which this simple Presbyterian Minister turned neighborhood host to children (and many adults) was known: There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You. The last verse of the song is:
Singing, cleaning,
Drawing, being
Understanding
Love you.
Although Fred Rogers was not shy about saying “I love you.” he also knew it was an action phase which required showing up and being intentional about how action or lack of action affected others.
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood show was designed to make it appear that one could always just drop in on Fred Rogers and feel at home. Everyone was a member of the neighborhood and everyone was welcome. I cannot recall ever talking to anyone who felt as if their color, religion, sexual orientation, size, looks or any other factor kept them out of this inclusive neighborhood. I think he gave hope to millions of children that they, too, could have a safe place to be; they too could belong.
Easter for me is about having a neighborhood to which one belongs. Millions of people feel as if they do not belong; as if they are not welcome; as if there is an us and them.
I do not think it matters whether our knowledge of Grace - unconditional love – comes from the idea of a resurrected Jesus – a resurrected Christ – or a Mr. Rogers - that person who assures one that one is loved and that one belongs – a teacher, a parent, an aunt, uncle, next door neighbor, the clerk at the store, the homeless person pushing a cart, a young child, that person sitting in jail or even a minister/priest/rabbi.
Hello. I love you.
Hello. Goodness, yes I know you are human.
Hello. Let me share my home, fix you a cup of hot chocolate, carry your groceries, take time to actually notice you, run an errand, listen when it means stopping what I had planned to do, or share my soup.
Let
Me
Love
You
Written March 30, 2018
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